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wast's review against another edition
4.0
The book is more like a biography, it's easy and interesting to read. But how to get the first $100k or $1 million is vaguely clear.
"1. Analyze your need. Desire is insufficient. Compulsion is mandatory.
2. Cut loose from negative influences. Never give in. Stay the course.
3. Ignore “great ideas.” Concentrate on great execution.
4. Focus. Keep your eye on the ball marked “The Money is Here.”
5. Hire talent smarter than you. Delegate. Share the annual pie.
6. Ownership is the real “secret.” Hold on to every percentage point you can.
7. Sell before you need to, or when bored. Empty your mind when negotiating.
8. Fear nothing and no one. Get rich. Remember to give it all away."
"Let's go and get rich!
The Upside-Down Pyramid for Getting Rich
1. Commit or don't commit. No half-measures.
2. Cut loose from all negative influences.
3. Choose the right mountain.
4. Fear nothing.
5. Start now.
6. Go!"
"1. Analyze your need. Desire is insufficient. Compulsion is mandatory.
2. Cut loose from negative influences. Never give in. Stay the course.
3. Ignore “great ideas.” Concentrate on great execution.
4. Focus. Keep your eye on the ball marked “The Money is Here.”
5. Hire talent smarter than you. Delegate. Share the annual pie.
6. Ownership is the real “secret.” Hold on to every percentage point you can.
7. Sell before you need to, or when bored. Empty your mind when negotiating.
8. Fear nothing and no one. Get rich. Remember to give it all away."
"Let's go and get rich!
The Upside-Down Pyramid for Getting Rich
1. Commit or don't commit. No half-measures.
2. Cut loose from all negative influences.
3. Choose the right mountain.
4. Fear nothing.
5. Start now.
6. Go!"
nanometers's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.25
Almost too honest reflection of getting rich from the lens of someone who has made the mistakes. Pretty light read but not any guidance other than targeting growing, non-crowded industries and maintaining high ownership.
mrdylancollins's review against another edition
4.0
A surprisingly good read, despite the misleading title. Useful to contrast with silicon valley wisdom.
colin_b's review against another edition
4.0
(Audiobook)
Initially I thought this guy was quite full of himself/arrogant/annoying, and the concept of the book was as cliché as it gets. However as the book progressed I started to understand that i was appreciating it not for inspiring me to get rich, but for exactly the opposite. He puts a lot of emphasis on how much in your life you have to give up to attain this level of wealth, and that it isn't (and shouldn't be) for everyone to chase money at the expense of everything else in life.
That said, I still think he's a bit of a d*ck and parts of the book are very self-indulgent - although I imagine he doesn't care. And if dogecoin took me to the moon tomorrow I wouldn't exactly be complaining!
Initially I thought this guy was quite full of himself/arrogant/annoying, and the concept of the book was as cliché as it gets. However as the book progressed I started to understand that i was appreciating it not for inspiring me to get rich, but for exactly the opposite. He puts a lot of emphasis on how much in your life you have to give up to attain this level of wealth, and that it isn't (and shouldn't be) for everyone to chase money at the expense of everything else in life.
That said, I still think he's a bit of a d*ck and parts of the book are very self-indulgent - although I imagine he doesn't care. And if dogecoin took me to the moon tomorrow I wouldn't exactly be complaining!
chinney's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
Good on the basics. The rah rahs at the end were a little tiresome. Whole book could have been cut in 1/2 because of the repetition. Served a little like a memoir, too.
sedgewren's review
funny
informative
medium-paced
2.75
Although the main message of this book could have been an email (making lots of money is really not worth it for most people; if you want to make money, start and own a business), I thought learning from Dennis's life experience was interesting (even if I disagree strongly with his political takes — he literally quotes Margaret Thatcher. Basically encapsulates his attitude towards wealth: individualistic and ruthless. At least he admits that capitalism is "a rotten and debased system of managing human affairs").
I appreciate the pep talk style, but it is a bit roundabout and sometimes infuriating. The poetry is honestly kinda bad, but it adds a bit of character (and padding) to the book.
I think his advice applies well to me individually but he doesn't have any empathy or understanding of the structural limitations — he says "money isn't prejudiced, people are" but it's precisely these people who are your potential customers, investors, colleagues, connections, advocates. It's not as simple as "if you want it enough, you can have it" — your average cis het white man doesn't need to "want it" as much as other people without those privileges.
However, this book is basically a call to do what you want, and not listen to what other naysayers say. It's a reminder to me that a fear of failure is the fear of embarrassment from failure, and recognising that makes me realise that although I can't often control if I fail, my reaction is something I can control.
His analysis of Steve Jobs' failings misses the mark — it is the jealous guarding of its operating system and other integrations that has led to Apple maintaining its exclusive status. Sure, if Apple built mediocre products, nobody would buy into its ecosystem, but Apple products consistently wow in UX and design. Also, the whole description of Steve only allowing someone else to take the reins "over his dead body" really didn't age well.
All in all, a book with helpful tips grounded in reality but it is infuriating at times.
I appreciate the pep talk style, but it is a bit roundabout and sometimes infuriating. The poetry is honestly kinda bad, but it adds a bit of character (and padding) to the book.
I think his advice applies well to me individually but he doesn't have any empathy or understanding of the structural limitations — he says "money isn't prejudiced, people are" but it's precisely these people who are your potential customers, investors, colleagues, connections, advocates. It's not as simple as "if you want it enough, you can have it" — your average cis het white man doesn't need to "want it" as much as other people without those privileges.
However, this book is basically a call to do what you want, and not listen to what other naysayers say. It's a reminder to me that a fear of failure is the fear of embarrassment from failure, and recognising that makes me realise that although I can't often control if I fail, my reaction is something I can control.
His analysis of Steve Jobs' failings misses the mark — it is the jealous guarding of its operating system and other integrations that has led to Apple maintaining its exclusive status. Sure, if Apple built mediocre products, nobody would buy into its ecosystem, but Apple products consistently wow in UX and design. Also, the whole description of Steve only allowing someone else to take the reins "over his dead body" really didn't age well.
All in all, a book with helpful tips grounded in reality but it is infuriating at times.